Bello frowns on trading activities on corridors, others

 

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has vowed to clear all markets on road corridors, in order to prevent another Gosa Market theater in the Territory.
It, however, charged its special committee headed by the coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, to involve operatives of the DSS and other security officials in its meetings, in order to achieve the set objective.
Bello specifically declared the decision to henceforth discourage trading activities along major entry and exit points in the FCT, disclosed plans to engage agile youths on a monthly allowance, to mount daily surveillance on such places.
This is coming on the heels of the controversial demolition of popular Gosa Market (a purported illegal open market) that triggered a demonstration that blocked the Abuja Airport road for over four hours on Monday.
Speaking during a visit to the site hitherto used for open trading activities in Gosa community, the Minister explained that it had been agreed that all markets along road corridors, “especially the Abuja Airport road will be relocated gradually, while that of Gosa will be immediate.”
Bello noted that he was on site to show the stakeholders and journalists the location of the new Gosa Market and urged the traders to move into the new location.
However, the Minister assured that open markets in communities will still be allowed to function as it was customary to operate open markets in the Territory.
He, therefore, instructed community leaders to take ownership of the markets and provide security and enforcement, “so that traders do not encroach on roads further as well as prevention of dumping of refuse on roads.”
Similarly, the chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abdullahi Adamu, assured that they had agreed with the community to protect the road corridors, to ensure that they “don’t cause nuisance on the roads.”
He also assured that AMAC would not collect taxes or any kind of levy on the new market till the market normalised in the nearest future.
Also speaking, Chief of Gosa Market, Mr. Wakili Estiphanus, expressed satisfaction over the FCT Administration’s decision to relocate them not far from their hitherto trading place.
He disclosed that basically, twice a week, people from within FCT and neighbouring states carryout trading activities during market days, which are Mondays and Fridays.
“We are happy with the relocation to the new site, what we are concerned with now is the clearing.
“Although the FCT Minister has assured us that between tomorrow (today) and next the place will be cleared, to enable us move in.
And if the place is cleared, will be eager and excited to move there, and continue our trading activities.”

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